Joan C. • New York • 25
Bleary-eyed in the bathroom on a morning before school, I shouted for my mom. There was a spot on my underwear. I was taught about menstruation and knew what it was, but still felt confused when it happened. My mom showed me how to use a pad and my day went on as normal. After school, I went to my grandmother's house to wait for my mom to pick me up. Good old mom burst in with a bouquet of flowers yelling "CONGRATS ON YOUR WOMANHOOD!" I was mortified and started to cry.
In her culture, Korean, it was something to be celebrated. In my world, pre-teen American, it was something that was more taboo. I made my mom promise not to tell anyone else that I got my period and she looked sad. My grandmother brought the flowers to me, said how pretty they were and that my mom only meant well. I love and appreciate the matriarchs in my family more than I can put into words. I wish I had the courage to celebrate with them that day.
